The unanticipated blows

Anyone who has read the book Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon will remember Kate, a brilliant, calculating, and ruthless woman whose ambition swallowed everything in its path. Her own son, Tony, gifted with extraordinary artistic talent, dreamed of building a life through his paintings. But Kate wanted him in the family business; moulded into her vision of greatness.

On the day that should have launched Tony’s artistic career, Kate bought the loyalty of the one person whose opinion could catapult his destiny: a revered art critic. Instead of celebrating Tony’s work, the critic publicly shredded it. It shattered his spirit. He lost faith in himself, and suffered a mental collapse that forever extinguished the brilliance within him.

Yes, the story is fiction, but its truth echoes loudly in real life.

It’s easy to brush off negativity from obvious enemies. When strangers criticise us, we may flinch, but we quickly find our balance again. What cuts deepest is criticism from those we trust; parents, teachers, mentors, authority figures, people whose voices carry weight and influence. People we believe should build us, not break us.

And because they are deeply respected, we often mistake their ridicule for truth. We swallow their doubts and internalise their judgments. Over time, we shrink, living smaller lives — diluted versions of what we could have been if only we had trusted our own compass.

But this is not, in any way, meant to derogate constructive criticism — no. Constructive criticism may reprimand or even disapprove, but it does not break your spirit. It builds your skill, correcting without crushing you. It challenges while still respecting your potential. Constructive criticism stretches you without shrinking you.

The unanticipated blows I am talking about are the kind of “feedback” that leaves you feeling smaller, confused, or diminished. The kind that pulls the rug from beneath your feet. That is not guidance; that is distraction in its raw state. It is important that you notice the difference.

Here is the key: If a passion burns inside you, it is not accidental. If a dream keeps calling your name, pulling your attention, stirring your spirit — it is not random. You were wired for it. You were built for it. You were entrusted with it.

Stay resolute. Stay loyal to the path that calls your name.

Distractions will come disguised; sometimes as advice, sometimes as concern, sometimes as authoritative opinions meant to “protect” and “guide” you. People may project their fears onto your future. They may dismiss what they cannot understand. They may attempt to tame your potential so it does not threaten their comfort.

Remember, greatness is often challenged not by enemies, but by familiar and respected faces. Keep on walking your path with conviction.

Walk even when your knees shake and your voice trembles. Even when the path is lonely and there is no applause.

Walk it even when the voices around you seem louder than the one within. You are not here to live a life designed by other people’s opinions. You are here to become.

And becoming requires courage. It requires the refusal to hand your destiny to those who cannot see what you see. It demands that you rise above the noise, above the doubt, above the expectations that try to box you in.

It calls for thick skin when the cruel jabs come, resilience when discouragement clings to you, and commitment when you falter and must begin again.

One day, you will find the same voices that tried to silence or belittle you marvelling at your strength. For now, let your progress be your reply, let your persistence be your shield and your growth be the evidence that their words were never the measure of your worth.

Most importantly, protect your passion. Nurture your gift. Honour the fire inside you for it is the map to who you are becoming. And when the world throws unanticipated blows your way, rise higher. Not to prove them wrong, but to prove yourself right.

Mildred Mutize is a certified life coach, speaker and writer, passionate about inspiring personal growth and transformation. For feedback and engagement contact her on [email protected] or WhatsApp +263773637284